Frozen Ponderings

Alexander Mogilny scored again Wednesday night, giving him 12 goals in his last 11 games. Can you say contract year? Nashville goalie Mike Dunham isn't often mentioned in trade rumors, mainly because he doesn't have playoff experience, and he's battled injuries in the past. This season, a playoff team in need might take a chance on him. This month, a healthy Dunham is 5-4-0 with a 2.01 GAA and .933 save percentage. Overall, he is 11-10-3 (2.39 GAA, .922 save pct.), which are solid numbers for Nashville (20-23-7-2). The Predators just signed backup Tomas Vokoun to a two-year extension, so they may be willing to part with Dunham for the right deal. When the regular season ends, Mario Lemieux will have played 46 games, assuming he remains healthy. With 14 goals in 13 games thus far, it's conceivable he could once again accomplish the rare feat of scoring 50 goals in less than 50 games. Lemieux scored 50 goals in 44 games in 1988-89. In the two meetings between New Jersey and Dallas this season, the Devils won twice by identical 4-1 scores. All eight of the Devils' goals were scored in the first period. In fact, all the goals were scored in a 22:20 span. That means the Stars held the defending Cup champs scoreless for more than 97 of 120 minutes and lost both times. The Oilers struggled mightily against San Jose in Wednesday's 6-1 loss, but to generate just one shot on goal in the second period is a tough pill to swallow. At least throw a couple of dump-ins on net to ease the pain, eh?

The ever-dreaded four-point swing.

That's what hit the Rangers hard on Wednesday night when they lost 3-2 to the Hurricanes – at home no less.

All the ground they gained during their 4-0-1 streak was negated in one period – the second, in which the Rangers allowed three even-strength goals.

Now, instead of sitting two points out of the East's No. 8 seed, the Rangers are six points behind Carolina and five behind the Bruins, who beat the Maple Leafs on the road Wednesday night.

Think it's too early to look at the standings and schedule? The docket leading up to the All-Star break was tailor-made for a Rangers' resurgence – one of those streaks that can catapult the season from mediocrity.

In the next week, the Blueshirts play four times and three of the four games are at home against some of the league's weakest competition – the Islanders, Thrashers and Canadiens. The fourth is on the road in Toronto.

All of a sudden, these games have must-win pressure.

In the same span, the Hurricanes play Philly, Atlanta, Tampa Bay and Toronto, while the Bruins have a more difficult road with Buffalo, New Jersey, St. Louis and lowly Montreal. A realistic projection would give Carolina at least four of a possible eight points. That means even if New York wins all four games, the Rangers still will be two points back. In addition, Carolina has two games in hand.

But it's what the Rangers do after this difficult home loss that could determine their fate – that's not too melodramatic – and show a lot about the team's character.

Do they start a new winning streak, or do the Rangers limp into the All-Star break?

After going unbeaten in five, New York cannot afford to go winless in the next five. The true way to make up ground over the long haul – and 30-plus games remaining is still considered a haul – is to avoid losing streaks. Win three, lose one. Perhaps, drop two on the road, but then go unbeaten in three or four.

So, even though it's unlikely the Rangers will win all four upcoming games, as long as they get more points than Carolina in the coming week – and win the games they're supposed to – all is not lost. But to lose confidence, and consequently a game or two, would place the Rangers in real trouble.

Mailbag
During the season, I'll try to answer a question or two from ESPN.com users for every edition of In the Corners. If you want to get a question answered, click here and ask away.

Question from Kevin T. Madigan, Wilmington, Del.: I was wondering what trades the Flyers might pull off at the trading deadline? Will Brian Boucher be in a package deal sent to L.A. for Rob Blake? And what will become of John LeClair?

Response: The Flyers and GM Bob Clarke are in a tough spot. LeClair is hurt and Boucher has been unsteady, and his confidence looks shot. A trade involving either one seems unlikely. Boucher might go to a developing team that has faith that his performance last season was not a fluke, but who knows if that will happen.

So, it doesn't look like the Flyers have a lot to offer in a trade for Blake. The Kings would want some immediate-impact talent, and the Flyers would end up giving up so much that the potential of Blake's positive impact could be offset.

In the standings, the Flyers are in good shape, but if they start to lose some games, they don't have much leverage in the trade market. And we won't even mention Eric Lindros … oops.

Brian A. Shactman covers the NHL for ESPN.com. He can be reached at brian.shactman@espn.com.